Template
1960-1985 (made)
| Place of origin |
Template (jig) for making child's spectacles. The jig consists of a rectangular block of steel with two pieces of translucent pale pink cellulose acetate screwed to one face of it, with a voided shape between them. The shape is in the form of part of the front of a pair of spectacles, with two small holes drilled in the steel plate where the top corner of the frame would be. During the process of making a pair of NHS spectacles, once the whole frame front had been cut from a sheet of cellulose acetate (using templates like B.314, 315-1996), each side was inserted into this third template in turn, and the pair of small holes used as a guide to drill holes for affixing the hinged sides.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Steel and cellulose acetate with metal screws |
| Brief description | template (JIG) for making child's spectacles; British, 1960-85 |
| Physical description | Template (jig) for making child's spectacles. The jig consists of a rectangular block of steel with two pieces of translucent pale pink cellulose acetate screwed to one face of it, with a voided shape between them. The shape is in the form of part of the front of a pair of spectacles, with two small holes drilled in the steel plate where the top corner of the frame would be. During the process of making a pair of NHS spectacles, once the whole frame front had been cut from a sheet of cellulose acetate (using templates like B.314, 315-1996), each side was inserted into this third template in turn, and the pair of small holes used as a guide to drill holes for affixing the hinged sides. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 42
44 |
| Object history | References: The donor in his letter states that children's NHS spectacles "were produced on the most simple of machinery...they were made by many British manufacturers to the ministries (sic) general specification [and] each licensed manufacturer would mark the frame with his four letter code..." Acquired by the donor during his career as a dispensing optician with R W H Clements, 1 Portland Road, South Norwood, London SE25 4UG. The NHS scheme whereby children were given free spectacles lasted from 1946 to 1988, when it was phased out in favour of vouchers. |
| Production | Made by: National Health Service |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | B.316-1996 |
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| Record created | April 19, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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